Fence



(No Model.) A. NEWKIRK.-

FENCE. N0' 3341973 Patented Jan. 26,1886.

y M Y ai@ llJ'ivTTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

ABRAM NEWKIRK, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 334,973, dated January 26,1886.

Application filed July 22, 1885. Serial No. 172,299. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, ABRAM NnwKrRK, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in fences in which stakes are arranged to embrace the overlapping ends of the rails, and each pair of rails is supported by a wire loop secured bya nail or equivalent to each stake, to the end that by the use of stakes smaller timber can be used that is too small to be suitable for the ordinary post, and by means of the loop a cheap, strong, and durable fence is made.

With the growing scarcity of fencetimber in various parts of the country any improvements in fences that will save material or any improvement by which whatl has heretofore been considered waste material can be utilized will be of great commercial value. I have therefore devised a fence in which stakes may be used instead of posts, by means of which the smaller growth of timber and fragments of timber too small for ordinary fence-posts are utilized, and by means also of my improved wire fastening asubstantial and durable fence is made at a small initial cost.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective of a fence embodying my invention. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are elevations taken transversely with the line of the fence, showing different ways of applying the loops to support the rails. Fig. 5 shows one ofthe loops detached from the fence.

A represents the rails, B the stakes, and C the wire loop for supporting the rails. The stakes are arranged in pairs to embrace the overlapping ends of the rails, as shown in Fig. 1. A wire loop, C, is stretched across from one stake to the other, and secured to each stake, preferably by nails c. Alternate loops are arranged on opposite sides of the stakes to hold the latter from twisting. The loops are usually arranged to embrace the lower rail of the pair of rails it supports; but this latter is not essential. The loop may emseparated where they enter the ground a distance equal to the thickness of the rails, the fence is well braced in a lateral direction. The loops O are usually made by machinery and furnished at a small cost. If the stakes are small, the loops may be lapped around the outer ends of the stakes. Round, half-round, or irregular-shaped stakes are used with equal facility as sawed stakes. It is better to have the top rail embraced by the loop, so that cattle or the wind cannot lift the rails out of place. Vith this construction of fence, if a rail breaks it does not disturb otherrails of the fence,and a new rail can be easily substituted. Nails, staples, or anything suitable for the purpose can be driven into the rail to engage the loops and hold the fence from pulling apart in extreme cases, where it is considered necessary such,forinstance,asasteep hillside. Of course, if preferred, a loop may be used for each rail end, so that the respective rails have no connection with each other, as shown at the bottom of the post in Fig. 3; also, where large loops are employed for embracing both rails, the loops may be brought in the form of a figure 8, so as to separate the rails, as shown in Fig. 4.

In building the fence it is better to assort the stakes and arrange the larger stakes, respectively, by the side of the smaller stakes, to give each pair the necessary strength. Of course, large stakes are preferable for the same reason that large posts are preferable-to wit, that they will last longer; also, in constructing fences a stake may be arranged by the side of a post, and the rails and fastenings arranged as aforesaid.

I am aware that it is not new to secure rails in pairs between parallel posts by means of a staple or bridge secured to both posts below the lower rail of each pair, and also that it is not new to secure rails to the opposite sides of IOO a single post` by loops embracing the rails and their overlapping ends between said stakes,

secured, to the post; hence I make no claim to of a wire loop embracing the lower rail of such construction.` each pair and forming a rest or seat for the r 5 What I claim isy upper rails, and secured to both stakes, sub- 5 l. In a fence, the combination, withv paralstantially as set forth.

lel stakes and the overlapping pairs of rails In testimony whereof I sign this specificaresting between said stakes, of the Wire loops tion, in the presence of two witnesses, this 16th secured to both stakes, as shown, and embracday of July, 1885.

ing the lower rail of each pair, substantially ABRAM NEWKIRK. 1o as set forth. Witnesses:

2. In a'fence, the combination, with paral- CRAs. H. DORER, lel stakes and the rails arranged in pairs,with ALBERT E. LYNCH. 

